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neopolitan ripple - crocheted baby blanket pattern

Look what I've been working on for a commissioned project! Ooh, doesn't that sounds so fancy? Actually, a parent from Rebecca's school asked if she could pay me to make three baby blankets for her sister. But "commissioned" sounds so much more important, doesn't it? This is the first, I finished it a couple of weeks ago and am now working on the second, which is knitted, and Dodger blue. But first I wanted to write up the pattern - I think it's my first (aside from the flowers I did way back when)!

Aside from the colors, I was given complete artistic license. Which, sometimes, is harder than just being asked to make a certain pattern. So, after fussing about for way too long looking online for different baby blanket patterns, and then messing around with different stitch patterns, I finally came up with this crocheted ripple pattern that gives a nice, soft wave. After I wrote this up, I did a little searching online and I found that the Neat Ripple Pattern by Attic 24 is the same stitch I came up with. And there are probably at least a dozen or so others already posted, but since this did develop from my own hands and brain, I think it's okay for me to post this for anyone who wants to make their own Neopolitan Ripple blanket. You can also find the details here on Ravelry.

My blanket measures 36" x 36". No blocking, because I used Caron Simply Soft, a worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn, so it would be easy care for the new mommy. The chosen colors were Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla. Oh, I mean Chocolate, Pink and Off White. I used 2 skeins of each color, but didn't use very much of the second skien of each.

G (4mm) hook

Gauge: approximately 20 sts and 8 rows = 4” x 4”.

Start by chaining 171 stitches across. The pattern repeat is 14, plus 3 extra for the turning chain, which counts as a double crochet. I wish I could have used a foundation chain, but I don't know how to do that when there are decreases and increases in the first row... (Alice, is that even possible?)

Row 1: Dc in 4th chain from hook. *Dc in next 4 sts, decrease 2x, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * across the row, ending with 2 dc in last st.

Row 2: Chain 3, turn. This counts as the first dc of the row. Dc in same st (you now have 2 dc). *Dc in each of next 4 sts, decrease 2x, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in each of next 2 sts,* repeat from * to * across row, ending with 2 dc in last st.

Edited on July 17, 2010 to add: When I say to decrease 2x, I mean to decrease twice in a row, thereby turning 4 stitches into 2. I've also rewritten a little bit of the pattern to make it clearer, hopefully. Oh, and it might help you to know that dc stands for double crochet in American terminology.

For my blanket, I worked 2 rows of each color, starting with Off White, then Pink, then Chocolate, then going back to Off White. I will definitely do this again in random colors and maybe experiment with different stripe widths.

If you find any mistakes, please let me know and I'll try to fix it right away. Hope you like it, if you make one be sure and leave a comment with a link - I'd love to see.

So pretty Michelle. I started one of those blankets over a year ago and you are on your second after a few weeks! I am slacking! Well, at least you wrote this nifty pattern. I'll never be able to remember what I was doing before.

This pattern is BLOODY BRILLIANT! I am only on row 4, but it is wonderful and easy to follow. It is awesome! You did a great job! If you like, I can post a pic of mine when it is finished. Just let me know. Someone else posted your name as Michelle. Well, Michelle, thank you very much!

Oh, this is beautiful! It's going on the list of projects to make for my soon-to-arrive niece! :) Just one question (I'm still a little new to crochet)...could you tell me how to do the 'decrease 2x'? Thank you!

You'll be doing two decreases in a row. So, four stitches will become two. If you're unsure as to how to work a double crochet decrease, there are videos on You Tube or you can Google "dc decrease" and lots of illustrated links will come up. I tried to explain in words here, but it's too confusing and is actually much easier than it sounds. Hope that helps a bit.

This pattern would look wonderful if you did the same stripe widths, but instead of going CA, CB, CC, CA, CB, CC try going CA,CB,CC,CB, CA, CB, CC, CB, CA...you use a lot more of color c and a, but it looks fabulous...

I am finally getting this one started. Doing it in 4 rows each of Lemon and Blackberry then one row of Sage, then back to Blackberry and Lemon. Repeating that pattern to the end. All of my yarns are Caron Simply Soft Collections, I will be chronically this on my ravlery (here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/shadedfears/neopolitan-ripple) and on my blog (here: http://in-skein.blogspot.com/)

I love this!! Your instructions are so easy to follow! I am making a baby blanket for my friend and wanted to do a wavy style, but the book I had was very confusing. You did a wonderful job of explaining what to do!! I will send you a link when I am finished!! Also wanted to add that I just taught myself to crochet about a week and a half ago, and already have made a purse, cell phone cover, and started one one blanket plus this one!! I love it so much!! Who would've thought?!